FIVE KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN THE FRENCH RIVIERA

For Mother’s Day weekend, the girls and I decided to take a mother-daughter trip to the French Riviera! Luckily, Basel has an EasyJet hub so we were able to take a quick flight to Nice! We absolutely loved our long weekend in the French Riviera. There is so much to do with children that we had a hard time deciding our activities! The region usually gets over 300 days of sunshine. How amazing, right? We were able to experience a lot during our three nights in the area so here are our recommendations for five kid-friendly activities in the French Riviera.

1. Changing of the Guard in Monaco

The Principality of Monaco is a microstate along the French Riviera, and it is the second smallest country in the world. Our first stop in Monaco was the Palace Square. The current ruler of Monaco is Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi), and the Grimaldi family has been reigning over Monaco for over 700 years. Everyday at 11:55 AM, there is a changing of the guard ceremony. Children are allowed to sit in front, but there are large crowds so make sure get there early! We all loved this experience, and it was so interesting to see a tradition of the Palace Guards that dates back to 1817!

Changing of the Guard in Monaco - Five Kid-Friendly Activities in the French Riviera

2. Castle of Nice

The Castle of Nice was a military citadel built at the top of a hill during the 11th century. You can hike up to the top of this hill, or you can take the free elevator. We chose the free elevator since we had already walked several miles and planned to do many more.

Once you arrive at the top, you are met with gorgeous views of the sea and Nice from above. There are multiple viewing platforms from the top, and we enjoyed seeing as many as we could. There are also cafes to enjoy some snacks or beverages along with a huge playground. The girls could have played at the playground all day, and I certainly did not mind relaxing on a bench overlooking the beautiful water.

Castle Hill in Nice - Five Kid-Friendly Activities in the French Riviera

3. Aquarium in Monaco (Musée Oceanographique de Monaco)

Our second stop in Monaco was the incredible Musée Oceanographique de Monaco. Perched on the Rocher of Monaco (Rock of Monaco), this incredible museum helps to educate visitors to understand and protect the ocean. The museum was founded by Prince Albert I and opened in 1910. The girls especially loved the playground on the roof with incredible views of the sea.

Aquarium in Monaco (Musée Océanographique de Monaco) - Five Kid-Friendly Activities in the French Riviera

4. Perfume Workshop in Grasse

Did you know that Grasse, France is the perfume capital of the world? Grasse is located north of Cannes, and it is home to three of the oldest perfumeries – Molinard, Galimard and Fragonard. During our time in Grasse, we chose to visit Molinard so that we could partake in a perfume workshop named Les Bar des Fragrances Grasse. This workshop is for anyone 8 or above and cost 30 Euros per person. They also offer a kids’ workshop for kids between the ages of 4 and 8.

To start our perfume making, we chose 1 out of 3 base scents and then up to 3 out of 6 notes. After four days, our perfumes were mixed to perfection, and we were all delighted with our perfume. The girls absolutely loved this experience, as did I!

Perfume Workshop at Molinard in Grasse - Five Kid-Friendly Activities in the French Riviera

5. Marineland

Marineland was a last minute stop on our way back to Nice from Grasse, but we sure are glad we made the stop. Marineland is a marine zoological park. We visited for a few hours, but we could have stayed all day. There are even animal shows featuring dolphins, orcas and sea lions. The girls absolutely loved the playground with lots of climbing structures! Marineland has also earned certification for the welfare and humane treatment of its animals from the International American Humane Conservation program.